Ken Lay Bank Fraud Trial Will Follow Enron Trial
Ken Lay won a round of sorts today when U.S. Disrict Court Judge Sim Lake agreed to postpone his bank fraud trial until the end of his Enron trial.
Initially, Lay moved for a severance from codefendants Jeff Skilling and Rick Causey, saying he wanted a speedier trial. The Judge denied the request for severance of the Enron charges but severed his bank fraud charges.
The Prosecution, trying to take him up on his speedy trial offer, asked the judge to set the bank fraud charges this summer. Lay then moved for a delay until after the Enron trial. He had already offered to waive the jury and have the Judge decide the bank fraud charges. The Court liked the idea but the Government wouldn't commit to waiving the jury (Jury waivers must be agreed upon by both parties.) Shortly before today's hearing, the Government agreed to waive the jury.
So here is how it will work: Lay, Skilling and Causey go to trial in January on the Enron case. When the jury begins deliberating, expected to be around July, the Judge will begin hearing evidence in the bank fraud case.
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